SIGHTS AND SOUNDS KNOW_IT_ALL_  JACK NICHOLSON HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR MORE OSCARS – 12 – THAN ANY MALE ACTOR. ROLLING STONES FRONTMAN MICK JAGGER ORIGINALLY STUDIED TO BECOME AN ACCOUNTANT. 20 TOP OF THE HILL The Hilltop Hoods have been spinning rhymes since high school. Daniel Smith (left), aka MC Pressure, explains. :: The band took a while to find success. What was your big break? We built up a solid following over the years, but we didn’t become well known until Triple J started playing The Calling (2003) album and the most popular track, The Nosebleed Section. We’d been making music for 10 years but we were very new to having people know who we were. When The Hard Road (2006) hit number one, I almost fell over. :: How has the Australian hip-hop scene changed since your early days in Adelaide? We started making hip-hop in the mid-1990s when there was almost no Australian hiphop scene. We had to do it all ourselves because there were no promoters around. It was a massive amount of work but we were passionate about our music. :: With few local hip-hop artists around, who did you look to for inspiration? We were influenced by what was coming out of the US because it was the only hip-hop we’d heard. We used to rap in American accents because we were imitating what we listened to. Then we met these older dudes in Adelaide who were rapping in Australian accents. They asked us why we were rapping in American accents and I had no answer. :: So it was at that point you started rapping in your native accents? That’s right. When you make hip-hop you’re talking about yourself and your personal experiences, so it’s fake to put on a different persona. We connect with Aussie fans because our music is obviously Australian – we have thick accents and don’t hide them. :: You founded your own record label to release your new album, State of the Art… Our contract with our former label was up and we decided we could do it ourselves. We also want to sign and develop some new Australian hip-hop talent. :: What’s your advantage over major record labels? Simply by being in the hip-hop scene, you’re aware of the younger up-and-coming dudes because they’re out there winning open mic competitions and they’re handing out demos. Some of the bigger labels aren’t as connected with particular genres so they aren’t able to do that. We can also use our experience to develop new talent and connect the new artists with the right people. Catch the Hilltop Hoods playing at Splendour in the Grass in Byron Bay this 26 July, or on their extensive national tour throughout the month. Visit www.hilltophoods.com for more information and details of tour dates. IS THE PERCENTAGE OF DIALOGUE IN THE HIT FILM SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE SPOKEN IN HINDI, WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES. THE FILM WON EIGHT OSCARS IN 2009. BRÜNO :: Sacha Baron Cohen The man who offended an entire nation returns as gay Austrian TV host, Brüno. The ‘mockumentary’ follows him as he crashes Milan Fashion Week, adopts an African baby, terrorises a US talk show and takes his over-the-top act to the streets of middle America. The result is a highly offensive and hilarious romp through homophobic prejudices – you’ll laugh till you cry. SHELLEY HARLAND :: RED LEAF There’s a lot to like in the moody yet intimate tones of Shelley Harland’s debut album. The English-born singer took off to New York to develop her style before moving to Sydney. She created this emotive album on a piano she bought at a Salvation Army store for $500, only to later discover that it was actually a rare Bluthner piano worth $10,000. CHAIRLIFT :: DOES YOU INSPIRE YOU There’s a strange magnetism to the sound of this New York trio and it’s not just thanks to the super-catchy Bruises that featured on the 2008 iPod Nano ad campaign. It’s a genre-bu achieving a d haunting qu and someti summoning 1980s-esqu synth pop and the psychedel acoustics of the 1960s. JULYVOYEUR 029 V0709_029_KIA_SIGHTS_AND_SOUNDS.029 029 V0709_029_KIA_SIGHTS_AND_SOUNDS.029 029 9/06/2009 11:19:53 AM 9/06/2009 11:19:53 AM TEXT :: SHANE CONROY // PHOTOGRAPHY :: GETTY IMAGES TOP TUNES FLICK PICK